Community Mediation Program

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The City of Olathe offers a Community Mediation Program without charge to all Olathe community members and parties charged in the Olathe Municipal Court.

Mediation is a voluntary process where two or more parties sit down and work through problems with the assistance of an independent mediator. Mediation gives people in conflict an opportunity to take responsibility for resolution of their dispute and control of the outcome.

A mediator guides participants through difficult conversations, providing a safe environment to discuss any issues, and the parties decide together how they will resolve their differences. The decision-making rests with the parties involved.

Upon request, the Olathe Community Mediation Office will arrange for hearing-impaired and foreign language interpreters to provide assistance during the mediation.

Please contact the Community Mediation Program Manager at 913-971-7736 with any questions.

About the Mediators

All mediators have completed specialized mediation training, have prior mediation experience, and have been approved by the Kansas Supreme Court. The mediators are neutral and unbiased; they do not assess fault or take the side of either party.

In mediation, a mediator actively listens allowing everyone an opportunity to build greater understanding. The mediator is impartial and does not takes sides, give advice, or make judgments. The mediator guides the participants through a collaborative problem solving process during which participants can develop solutions that meet their needs.

The Mediation Process

The City of Olathe Community Mediation Program Manager will schedule a mediation session at the request of one of the parties. Referrals can also be made by police officers, code enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys.

The dispute must be suitable for mediation and both parties must agree to participate. The parties will meet in a safe, informal environment with the mediator.

Often information previously unknown to the other party is brought to the table. The mediator will listen to each side’s views, help the parties identify the issues in dispute, and assist with communication. The goal of mediation is to find realistic, workable solutions, to negotiate terms, and to build an agreement.

Once the parties have reached an agreement, the mediator will write the terms down for the parties to review before they sign the agreement.

The Mediation Process:

Explain the process
Talk about the situation
Build a list of topics
Brainstorm solutions
Write an agreement

Why Mediation?

Some reasons to pursue mediation to resolve disputes include:

Speed: A mediation session can be scheduled as quickly as the parties and mediator can agree on a date and time, usually within two weeks.
Confidentiality: The mediation process allows parties to speak openly about issues in a private setting. Kansas law provides, with some limitations, that mediations are confidential. Neither party can subpoena the mediator and nothing specific to the mediation is admissible in court proceedings without the agreement of both parties.
Satisfaction: Parties are usually happier when they solve their own problems and can control the resolution. No one else imposes decisions that are not agreeable to the parties.
Risk: There is no risk. There are no winners and no losers. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, they are free to pursue other legal remedies.
Results: Mediation gets positive results. Depending upon the type of dispute, how early the referral is made, and the commitment of the parties, most mediated disputes reach an agreement. Through 2019, 99 percent of all mediations conducted by the Community Mediation Program reached an agreement.
Other Benefits: Early settlements can save time, money, and emotional strain. By creating practical, mutually agreeable solutions, mediation helps to improve and preserve on-going relationships. Through mediation parties can build a framework for future interactions and positive resolution of problems. Successful mediations assist the City by improving neighborhoods, reducing repeat calls for police services, and removing resolvable disputes from court dockets.

Types of Cases

The mediation process is designed to resolve disputes that do not involve major property damage or serious bodily injury. Other agencies offer specialized services for divorce and child custody issues. Types of cases and issues mediated by the Community Mediation Program are:

Family/Friend: Personal property, debts, harassment, assault, theft
Neighbors: Harassment, trespassing, noise, animals, property damage, code violations
Landlord/Tenant: Security deposits, property damage, repairs
Consumer/Merchant: Poor quality service or product, faulty repairs, refunds
Builder/Property Owner: Construction, home owners associations, quality of life

The Olathe Community Mediation Office will review requests for mediations to determine if the disputes are suitable for mediation through this program. Referrals to other more appropriate resources may be made pursuant to staff review.

Request Mediation

Fill out the online mediation request form or call the Community Mediation Program Manager at 913-971-7736 to begin the mediation process. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Upon receiving the request, the Community Mediation Program Manager will speak to the parties involved individually to learn more about their perspective on the situation. If everyone agrees to move forward, the mediation meeting will be scheduled at an acceptable date and time for all parties.